//------------------------------// // The Long Road Home Part 4 // Story: AppleShy Series // by PatRoison //------------------------------// Trixie walked the halls of Manehattan General. She knew the Foal Ward as well as her faithful cape, but something was amiss. She couldn’t place it, so she continued to walk. Eventually, she found herself near an operating room. Trixie looked inside and gasped at the sight. The entire room was stained with blood, and the doctors were operating with such haste that it looked reckless. Trixie was about to run inside when an explosion rocked the building. The doctors covered their patients with their bodies to protect them from falling debris, and Trixie ran to find a window. What she saw floored her. Manehattan was in flames. As far as Trixie could see was fire and smoke. She staggered back, refusing to believe what she was seeing. She turned to run but was now on the hospital roof. “Great,” she groaned, “Another supposed vision.” Trixie relaxed slightly as she now knew she was dreaming. She walked the perimeter of the roof to survey the damage to the city. At this height, she couldn’t tell if riots, war, or natural disasters caused the destruction. Trixie turned to leave when she felt something. She dove to the side when something slammed into the ceiling, causing a large section to collapse. She rolled onto her back and saw a towering creature. It had no clear form and appeared to be made of smoke and fire. Trixie got onto her hooves and ran for the door. She opened it and was tossed backward. “No,” a soft voice said, “This is your fight. You have to do your part.” The stairway was filled with a blinding light, and Trixie saw a pony standing inside. “You know what you have to do.” Trixie struggled to get to her hooves and was about to speak when the pony stepped forward. The pony unfurled a wing. Trixie couldn’t see clearly, but this pony appeared to only have one wing. “It’ll be okay,” the pony said, “You’ll know when it’ll be time.” --- Trixie woke up and stretched. This was the first vision she had since leaving the dungeon. Her new room was considerably better, but she missed the simple charm of her old caravan. She looked outside and saw that it was nearing midday. Trixie groaned and got out of bed. “I’ll have to let her know,” she said, “Why didn’t she show up this time?” Trixie shook off the confusion and walked to her desk to write down what she could remember of her vision. The pony with a missing wing, the giant creature, and the doctors. Trixie made certain to write down all that she could. A knock on the door brought her attention away from her notes. “Who is it,” Trixie asked. “Breakfast,” a voice called. Trixie walked to the door and opened it. “Place it on the table,” she said. The pony rolled her eyes, “And here I thought I was to place it in the tub. Thank you for setting me straight.” Trixie ignored the pony and waited for her meal to be laid out. They turned to leave. “Thank you,” Trixie said. The pony smiled, “Sure thing. It’s nice having a new apprentice around here.” Trixie began to eat and finished her notes for Princess Luna, but after lunch, it was back to the library. --- The cafe near the Ponyville inn wasn’t too crowded this time of the day. Most ponies would eat at Sugarcube Corner, but the cafe served good food for ponies that preferred a calmer atmosphere. In other words, it was a perfect spot for a pony like Fluttershy and utter torture for an energetic pony like Scootaloo. Scootaloo saw the white tables and beautiful flowers and sighed. She smiled when she felt Fluttershy’s wing wrap around her. “Once we finish with brunch,” Fluttershy said, “We’ll stop by Sugarcube Corner.” Scootaloo smiled, “Promise?” Fluttershy nodded, “I think you’ll like the food, and I know it’s a bit too quiet for you.” She smiled as they approached the hostess. “Good morning,” the hostess said, “For how many?” “Three,” Fluttershy said, “We will eat with Dr. Rainbow. She’s staying here.” The hostess smiled, “Of course. She reserved a table for this morning. She still isn’t down, but I can seat you and your daughter if you’d like.” Fluttershy smiled and led Scootaloo forward, who offered the hostess a small smile. They sat at a table with a great view of the town square, and in the distance, Sugarcube Corner sat in its beautiful sugary splendor. “Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said. “I wasn’t doing anything,” Scootaloo said, snapping from her daze. “I know you weren’t,” Fluttershy said, “I know this will not be fun for you, but can you promise me something?” Scootaloo nodded, “Sure. What’s up?” Fluttershy smiled warmly, “Just be you. This won’t be easy, but I want you to be honest. She said that she would apologize, and as much as I would like you to accept her apology, I want you only to accept it if you wish.” “Sure,” Scootaloo said. Fluttershy turned her attention toward the stairs leading up to the second floor. “Please be polite,” Fluttershy said. Scootaloo sunk into her chair and waited for the older pegasus to arrive. --- Twilight entered the library and was about to call for Spike, but she decided to check out what he was doing in the basement. She reached for the door and froze when Spike shouted. “What’re you doing?” The young dragon ran and stopped Twilight from opening the door. “It’s too messy down there,” he said, “Yeah, you need something? I can get it for you.” “Spike,” Twilight asked, “What are you doing?” Spike shifted nervously, “Uh, don’t worry about it. Whatever it is, I promise it won’t get in the way of my chores.” Twilight sighed, “I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about you.” “Fine,” Spike said, “I’ll show you, but promise you won’t laugh?” Twilight smiled, “I promise.” “Okay,” Spike said, “Let’s go.” They headed into the basement, and Twilight saw what Spike was working on. The young dragon built a small gym in the basement. “You’ve been working out,” Twilight asked, “Why would you keep that secret? Exercise is a good thing.” Spike blushed, “Yeah, I know, but it felt weird telling you about it.” Twilight’s smile faded, “Is this because of what happened at the mansion? Is that why you’re trying to get stronger?” “Yeah,” Spike said, “I know it’s silly. I mean, what’s the chance of something like that happening again? But it felt wrong to run and hide.” He huffed, causing a plume of fire to escape his mouth, “I mean, I’m a dragon. I shouldn’t be hiding from a fight.” “As long as you’re not the one starting them,” Twilight said, “I don’t want you being a bully.” “Don’t worry about that,” he said, smiling, “I want to be strong enough to help protect you and our friends.” Twilight hugged Spike, “That’s very sweet of you.” Spike laughed, “And kind of useless. You’re probably the greatest unicorn ever. There isn’t a pony alive that can top your magic.” “Thanks,” Twilight said, “But I don’t want to think about things like that.” She studied the makeshift equipment Spike was using, “Would you like me to order some proper equipment? I’m sure Shining Armor can send us something.” Spike looked at his little gym and shrugged, “Sure. I guess having good stuff would be better.” “And safer,” Twilight said, “Now, go take a bath, and I’ll make us some lunch.” Spike nodded and ran up the stairs. --- Dr. Ember Rainbow walked down the stairs and nodded to Fluttershy. She quietly sat down and didn’t speak. “Uh,” Scootaloo asked, “Good morning?” Ember rolled her eyes and waved at a server. “How about a ‘good morning’ back,” Scootaloo asked, “You ever hear of manners?” “Is this how she’s being brought up,” Ember asked, shaking her head. Fluttershy stared flatly at Ember and said, “I never had the chance.” Ember flinched, “True.” “Good morning,” she said, still looking at the server. Fluttershy sighed, “If you are going to disrespect my daughter, we’ll leave.” She motioned for Scootaloo to move, and they got out of their seats. “No,” Ember said, “Please stay.” “Why,” Fluttershy asked, “I want Scootaloo to know the pony I knew growing up. The mare that cared for me, not whoever this is now.” The server arrived, “Thank you for waiting. What shall I get for your drinks?” Ember motioned for Fluttershy to sit down. “I’ll have a coffee,” she said. Scootaloo sat down, “Uh, can I have an apple juice?” The server smiled, “You sure can.” He turned to Fluttershy, “And for you, miss?” Fluttershy smiled at Scootaloo and sat down. “I will have some tea if that’s okay,” she asked. The server smiled and left. “Thank you,” Ember said. She turned to Scootaloo, “I suppose. No. I owe you an apology. I was wrong to treat you as I did last night.” Scootaloo nodded, “Okay.” She glanced at Fluttershy, “Now what?” Fluttershy smiled and gently stroked Scootaloo’s mane, “Now we enjoy our meal. You’re not supposed to patch things up all at once.” She turned to Ember, “We’ll share a meal, and one day, we’ll even visit Cloudsdale.” Scootaloo looked up at the sky and buzzed her wings. “Your wings should grow enough to carry you in a few years,” Fluttershy said, “And I’m sure Rainbow Dash will help you. Once you understand the basics.” Ember opened her mouth, but a glance from Fluttershy caused her to clear her throat instead. “It’s certainly possible that you’ll be able to fly on your own,” she said, “But you can already walk on clouds.” Scootaloo stared at a cloud, “I’ve never been on a cloud before.” “Really,” Ember asked, “Why not?” Scootaloo shrugged, “No reason, I guess. Not a lot of pegasus ponies here. What’s it like?” Fluttershy smiled, “It depends. For us, it’s soft, but all you do is sink into the surface. We can even go inside clouds and change their shapes, but that requires practice.” “If you’d like,” she continued, “You can walk on the clouds later when we visit Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo smiled, “That’d be really cool. I’ve never been in a cloud house.” The server arrived with their drinks and food. “I took the liberty of ordering the food last night,” Ember said. “Thank you,” Fluttershy said. She passed Scootaloo a small plate of eggs and toast. “Thanks,” Scootaloo said and stared at her meal. It was smaller than she expected. She glanced at Fluttershy and received a comforting smile in return. She shrugged and began to eat as carefully as she could, only half-paying attention to the conversation between the adults. --- Applejack groaned as she sat in the shade of an apple tree. She rubbed her chest as the growing pressure forced this unexpected break. “You still here,” Big Macintosh asked, “Get your butt to Twilight’s.” Applejack shook her head, “I’ll be fine. I just need to catch my breath.” Big Mac shook his head, “A minute ago, you were just tired. You having trouble breathing?” “Shoot,” Applejack hissed, “I’ll be fine. We have a lot of work to do.” “And you ain’t any good to us sick,” Big Mac growled. He glared at his little sister, “Now, are you going to go willingly, or am I dragging you?” Applejack scoffed and was about to speak when Big Mac roughly dragged her to her hooves. “Don’t test me,” he said, “Now, how’s it gonna be?” “Okay,” Applejack said, “I’ll get going.” She took a step, nearly fell over, and used a tree to steady herself. “Want some water,” Big Mac asked. “Yeah,” Applejack said, a free hoof to her chest, “I’d best get to Twi...” She fell to her side, and the moment she landed, a blast of energy erupted from her body. Big Mac was flung backward and landed roughly. He quickly shook it off and ran to his sister. “That ain’t right,” he said as he tried to see through the fading light. There on the ground, his little sister still lay. Big Mac shook the image from his mind. “It was nothing,” he said as he placed Applejack on his back. Once she was secured to his yoke, Big Mac ran toward the library. --- “I will check in on Rainbow before I leave,” Ember said, “But she will need you. You know how proud she can be.” Fluttershy nodded, “Yes, I’ll do my best to help her. She’s helped me so much.” She smiled at the sight of the bored girl next to her and stroked her mane. “I’m not sleeping,” Scootaloo said though she was nodding off. “You’re not used to this,” Fluttershy said, “But you’re doing great.” Ember took a sip of coffee, “It’s been too long since I’ve had to deal with children.” She smiled, “Did you enjoy your meal?” Scootaloo returned the smile, “Yeah, it was better than I thought it would be, but why did you two keep talking about how good the eggs were? They’re eggs!” Fluttershy giggled, “It’s silly, but it’s part of brunch. You have to talk about the food.” Ember rolled her eyes, “Especially if somepony can’t hold a conversation.” Fluttershy gasped, “I thought I was doing quite well, thank you.” “You certainly improved since you were younger,” Ember said, smiling. She looked up at the sky, “And I should be going. Do take care of yourself.” “Thank you for brunch,” Fluttershy said, hugging Ember. Ember returned the embrace, “Thank you for joining me.” She turned to Scootaloo, “And thank you for accepting my apology. You behave yourself.” Scootaloo clenched her jaw to keep herself from saying something. “I’ll be headed home after I see Rainbow,” Ember said, “Do come visit when you get a chance.” “We will,” Fluttershy said, “And I will do what I can to help Rainbow.” “Hey,” Scootaloo asked, “Can I help, too?” Fluttershy brought her close with a draped wing, “Yes, you can. Right now, we have a stop to make, don’t we?” Scootaloo smiled and ran towards Sugarcube Corner. “Oh, my,” Fluttershy said, smiling, “Somepony’s in a hurry.” “You’ll have to reign her in,” Ember said, “Don’t you take your eyes off her. Not for a moment.” Fluttershy huffed, “She’s a playful young girl, and I promised we would go to the bakery.” “Remember what I told you,” Ember said, “It’s a big responsibility raising a foal, and you have the odds stacked heavily against you. Not only because of my decisions but also...” “I know that you believe you did what was right,” Fluttershy said, “And I trust you, but I know that she will not be like her father because she has a big family to look after her.” Ember smiled, “And I should do my part. In a way, she is my granddaughter.” Fluttershy smiled, “And you will be great at it.” Ember laughed, “I doubt that, but I really should go.” The ponies embraced, and Ember took off toward Rainbow’s home. Fluttershy waved and slowly flew toward the bakery. The door was open, and it didn’t take long for Fluttershy to spot her young daughter at the counter. “Heya, Fluttershy,” Pinkie shouted. “Oh,” Fluttershy said, “Hello, Pinkie. Good afternoon.” Pinkie tilted her head in confusion, “It’s afternoon already? Boy, time sure is weird when you’re not keeping track of it. So, what can I get the happy family?” Fluttershy froze in her tracks and offered Scootaloo a small smile. “Well,” Scootaloo said, “Since it hasn’t been a full day since I found out Fluttershy’s my mom, what do you think, Pinkie?” “Oh, that’s easy,” Pinkie said, “You have the Pinkie Pie Newly Reunited Family Special.” Fluttershy sat on a chair, “What’s that?” Pinkie grinned, “Well, it’s a little bit of everything. You have your cupcakes for the standard everyday stuff. Then there are gooey and rich brownies for the special occasions, and to top it all off, salted caramels.” Scootaloo wiped her mouth with a hoof, “That all sounds so good.” “It certainly does,” Fluttershy said, “But I couldn’t possibly...” “Shut up,” Pinkie said, still smiling. Fluttershy flinched, “What?” Pinkie nodded vigorously, “Yup, you can stop saying words now. This is my gift to the two of you, and there’s nothing you can say that’ll stop me.” “It does sound really good,” Scootaloo said, her eyes pleading with Fluttershy, “And we can take some to Rainbow Dash when we visit.” “Well,” Pinkie said, “That’ll definitely stop me. This is just for you two.” Fluttershy shook her head and laughed, “Pinkie, what if we wanted to share with Rainbow?” Pinkie smiled, “Well, they’re your gifts, so you do whatever you want with them.” She hopped up and down, “I’ll get them ready. Back in a bit.” Fluttershy nodded, “I’ll be right back. I need to use the restroom.” “Thanks for the warning,” Pinkie shouted from the kitchen. Scootaloo smiled and took in the scenery. Sugarcube Corner always felt like a home away from home with its pleasant smell of baked goods and how welcoming the Cakes were. Now she had the chance to have a real home. She pawed at the counter and sighed. The thought of leaving the orphanage always felt silly before. She always thought she would get too old and leave, but things have changed. Scootaloo heard the bathroom door open and smiled as Fluttershy joined her. “Everything okay,” she asked Scootaloo. Scootaloo nodded, “Yeah, I’m just thinking.” “Are you worried about leaving your friends,” Fluttershy asked. “No,” Scootaloo said, “I can always visit. I’m just scared, I guess.” Fluttershy took a deep breath, “Scared of not living up to expectations?” Scootaloo froze, slowly turning to face Fluttershy. “Yeah,” Scootaloo said, “That’s it. I don’t want to mess this up.” “I feel the same way,” Fluttershy said, “But we have to remember that this isn’t a job or a contest. This is a relationship. We have to help each other.” “Okie dokie,” Pinkie said, placing a basket on the counter, “One, Whatever-I-Called-the-Special basket, all packed up and ready to go.” Fluttershy smiled, fished out a cupcake, and passed it to Scootaloo. “Let’s have some dessert,” she said. Scootaloo grinned and happily ate the cupcake. She ate so quickly that she got most of the frosting on her mouth rather than in her mouth. “Here you go,” Pinkie said, passing her a napkin. “Thanks,” Scootaloo said, “That was a good cupcake.” She turned to Fluttershy, “Aren’t you going to have one?” “Oh,” Fluttershy said, “I’m not hungry. I’ll wait until we visit Rainbow.” “Can I have another one,” Scootaloo asked. Fluttershy shook her head, “I don’t want you to get sick, but you can have another one with Rainbow Dash.” “Okay,” Scootaloo said, a little deflated, “We should probably get going.” Fluttershy nodded, “Yes. Thank you again, Pinkie. This was very thoughtful of you.” Pinkie leaned over and hugged Fluttershy, “It’s no biggie. You two have fun.” “We will,” Scootaloo shouted as she ran out the door. “She’s a good girl,” Fluttershy said. “She sure is,” Pinkie said, “Don’t get left behind now.” Fluttershy nodded and was about to take the basket handle in her mouth. She paused for a moment and asked, “Pinkie, you said the cupcakes are for regular days, and the brownies are for special occasions, but what are the caramels for?” “Those are for the tough times,” Pinkie said, “When there’ll be lots of salty tears. Just remember that you’re a family again.” The pink pony waved goodbye and headed to the kitchen. Fluttershy nodded thoughtfully and picked up the basket. She walked outside and smiled at Scootaloo, who was waiting patiently outside. Fluttershy leaned over, and Scootaloo climbed onto her back. Once the young girl held onto Fluttershy, they were in the air. Scootaloo smiled as she felt the wind through her mane and held her tiny wings out to catch the breeze. Fluttershy flew slowly, but Scootaloo didn’t care. She was in the air. They arrived at Rainbow’s house, and Scootaloo jumped off. This being the first time she landed on a cloud, she wound up half-buried in the cloud, her tiny legs and wings flailing. Fluttershy gently grabbed Scootaloo by a hind leg and pulled her out. “Well, that was interesting,” Scootaloo said before running to Rainbow’s door. Fluttershy smiled and followed. The front door opened, and Rainbow Dash emerged and smiled at Scootaloo, who immediately ran inside. “Her first flight,” she asked Fluttershy. Fluttershy nodded and motioned for Rainbow to go inside. “Right,” Rainbow said, scratching the back of her head, “Kind of hard to talk with that basket in your mouth.” They entered, and Scootaloo was bouncing on the cloud floor. “This is weird,” she shouted, “How come it’s so soft, but I don’t fall through?” Fluttershy placed the basket on a counter, “Because pegasus ponies normally live in the clouds.” Scootaloo stopped bouncing, “I don’t.” “Neither do I,” Fluttershy said, smiling. “So,” Rainbow Dash began, breaking the awkward silence, “What’d you bring me?” Scootaloo ran to the counter, “It’s a gift from Pinkie.” Rainbow read the card on the basket, “This is for you guys.” “Yes,” Fluttershy said, “But we want to share with you. Besides, we have something very important to talk about.” Rainbow sighed, “Yeah, but can’t it wait until we’re, you know, alone?” Fluttershy shook her head, “She should hear this. After all, she’ll need to know this when she’s older.” “What,” Rainbow asked, “Why?” Fluttershy giggled, “Well, you might be okay not having a flying license, but she will certainly have one.” Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief, “Oh, that’s what you meant. Yeah, I’ll grab the books.” She stopped when she felt Fluttershy place a hoof on her shoulder. “I know your mom visited you today,” Fluttershy whispered, “I don’t want to overwhelm you.” Rainbow smiled, “That’s my pal. Yeah, we’ll talk later.” Scootaloo was now in the kitchen, marveling at all the cloud furniture. “There’s a cloud version of everything,” she shouted, “Is there a cloud bed?” Fluttershy nodded, “Yes, and they’re quite comfortable.” Scootaloo jumped up and down on the cloud floor, “Why don’t you have a cloud bed?” “Sometimes,” Fluttershy said, “My animal friends get scared or need to be close. They would fall right through a cloud bed.” “That makes sense,” Scootaloo said, “And Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle couldn’t sleep in it.” Rainbow Dash joined them in the kitchen and placed the parcel with the books on the counter. “What’s this,” Scootaloo asked. “I need to study this to get my flight license,” Rainbow Dash said, “Can’t be a Wonderbolt without one.” Scootaloo opened one of the books, “Can I study, too?” Fluttershy smiled and immediately giggled when Rainbow said, “Oh, shut up. You planned it, didn’t you?” “Planned what,” Scootaloo asked. “I thought you could get a little bit of a head start on your flying knowledge. You still have a few more years before you’ll be able to fly, but the sooner you know this, the easier it’ll be.” “And,” Rainbow said, “That’ll leave more time for practicing.” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed excitedly as the pegasi began studying. --- Lunch was enjoyed, and the dishes were washed. Now, the unicorn and dragon were pouring over books to learn the most efficient way for Spike to exercise. “How many exercise books does a pony need,” Spike asked, “How am I supposed to remember all this stuff?” Twilight smiled, “That’s where I come in. I’ll figure out the best course of action for you. Don’t you worry.” Spike sighed and continued to pretend to be reading another book, and smiled when somepony began knocking on the library door. “Oh, good,” he said, running to the door. “Hey, Big Mac,” he said, “What’s up?” “Where’s Ms. Twilight,” Big Mac asked. Twilight walked to the door, “Hi, Big Mac, what seems to be...” She gasped when she noticed Applejack on his back. “Bring her inside,” she said, “What happened?” Big Mac carefully placed Applejack on a couch, “Don’t rightly know. We were working on the farm, and I noticed she wasn’t working like normal. We figured it was on account of her being laid up for a while, so we kept working. She said that she was feeling tired and needed a quick break.” Spike was already returning with a basic first aid kit, “Was there something wrong with her chest?” Big Mac stared at Spike, “Yeah, she said she had a hard time breathing. What happened to her?” Twilight sighed, “She didn’t tell you?” “All I know is that she was in a bad way,” Big Mac said. “That’s certainly one way of putting it,” Twilight said, “Okay, short version. She was hurt by a dangerous spell. The doctors were able to get rid of most of the magical energy, but some couldn’t be removed.” “And it’s in her chest,” Big Mac asked. Twilight nodded, “The doctor said to scan her weekly to make sure the energy is harmless, but she was supposed to come by if she felt any symptoms.” She sighed, “Can you tell me anything about what happened before she lost consciousness?” Big Mac sat down, “She said that she needed to catch her breath, and I ordered her to come here. She got up and took a few steps and fell over.” He shook his head, “Craziest thing, too.” “What happened,” Spike asked. “When she hit the ground,” Big Mac said, “It was like a bomb blew up. Knocked me right on my flank and dang near blinded me.” “That’s when you brought her here,” Twilight said. Big Mac nodded, “Eeyup. I gotta get back to the farm. Keep her safe.” Twilight smiled, “We will. Thank you, Big Mac.” Mac left the library, but he stopped at the doorway. “I know it’s nothing but...,” he began. Twilight placed a hoof on his shoulder, “It might not be. What else happened?” Big Mac laughed, “I was just seeing things, but for a second, I could have sworn she had wings.” He shook his head, “It was probably from the light, I reckon. Anyway, you take care now. I’ll stop by this evening to check on her.” Twilight stood there in stunned silence as he walked away. “Oh, no,” she whispered, “Is she still under the effects of the spell?” She closed the door, ran back to Applejack, and began scanning the unconscious pony. “Okay,” Twilight said, “That’s not good.” Spike nudged Twilight, “What’s not good?” Twilight began to speak but said, “Okay, that’s just weird.” “What’s going on,” Spike asked. Twilight kept scanning Applejack’s torso, “The energy was different for a second. It was benign at the hospital, and Dr. Whistle told me what I should expect, but this is not it.” Spike nodded momentarily, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did she turn back into that thing from the mansion?” “For a moment, she did,” Twilight said, “This energy that’s trapped within her. It’s part of the spell that was cast on her.” “And we can’t study the spell,” Spike asked. Twilight shook her head, “No, all records were destroyed. Too dangerous for anypony to know about it.” Spike sighed, “I’ll get the coffee on.” “Why,” Twilight asked. “Oh, you know why,” shouted from the kitchen, “You’re not gonna relax until you figure out how that spell worked, and that means a book fort and lots of coffee.” Twilight smiled and stroked Applejack’s mane. “We’ll figure this out,” she said. --- Trixie happily sent the final form that concluded she was the master of magic that she already knew she was. She sat in her office chair and waited for Princess Luna to arrive. “You seem to work faster than I intended,” Luna said. Trixie was surprised but, being the experienced showmare that she was, only displayed a warm smile to the Princess of the Night. “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t deliver,” she said. Princess Luna sat opposite Trixie and said, “All you proved is that you know where to get the answers you need. You don’t actually know anything.” Trixie grinned, “I know enough. Besides, my instincts have always served me well.” “The Ponyville incident begs otherwise,” Luna said. “Exception that proves the rule,” Trixie said. Luna laughed, “Well said. I believe you are ready for your true assignment.” She levitated a parchment and placed it in front of Trixie. The unicorn didn’t need to open it. She knew what it was. “What is this doing here,” she asked. Luna said, “You are to master this spell. It is the only copy that remains. All have been destroyed. Even the copy the Element of Laughter made is gone.” “Then destroy this one too,” Trixie said, “It’s caused enough damage.” Luna shook her head, “No, this isn’t some intellectual curiosity. This is a means to kill us, and we must know the weapons of our enemies.” Trixie got to her hooves, “Princess if I am to master this spell, that would mean there is somepony that could kill you.” Princess Luna sighed, “And that harsh duty may fall to you. Ever since those pamphlets appeared in Canterlot, I have felt her growing stronger.” “Who,” Trixie asked. Luna smiled, “I see Celestia managed to keep it quiet. My return was prophesied, but I returned as Nightmare Moon.” “The fairy tale,” Trixie asked, “I suppose that does make some sense since you returned.” Trixie pushed the scroll to the side, “And you feel this evil, I don’t know, version of yourself becoming stronger? Is it from stress? The stories said it was from jealousy.” “The stories aren’t entirely accurate,” Luna said, “But will serve as a solid enough foundation. It seems that negative emotions are causing her to stir.” “I won’t kill you,” Trixie said, “I may be a few unsavory things, but a murderer will never be one of them.” Luna smirked, “Holding on to morals, are we?” Trixie returned the smirk, “I may not have many morals, but I stand by the few I have.” “I am not asking for you to do anything more than learn this spell,” Luna said, “This is only should the worst come to pass. Your hesitation in using such a powerful spell is quite telling.” “No, it isn’t,” Trixie said, shaking her head, “You seem to have forgotten that this needs multiple ponies to cast it.” “And unlike your captors,” Luna said, “I have every confidence that you will master this spell.” Trixie sighed and nodded, “Very well, then. I’ll do what I can.” “I know,” Luna said and turned to leave. “There is something else,” Trixie said. Princess Luna stopped, “You had a vision.” Trixie nodded, “It was the first time since I was in the dungeon. Did you see it?” Luna shook her head, “I wasn’t watching your dreams. Tell me what you saw.” “I was in Manehattan General, and the city appeared to be engulfed in chaos. There was a towering creature made of smoke and fire, but I couldn’t see anything clearly.” Trixie took a breath, “The vision ended when I saw a silhouetted pony. They said something about me doing what I have to do and that this was my fight.” Luna nodded thoughtfully, “Did you see this pony clearly?” “No,” Trixie said, “They were wrapped in a bright light, but it seemed they only had one wing.” “That is certainly interesting,” Luna said, “And it raises questions. Does the pony in question only have one wing right now, or will they lose the wing during the events of your visions?” She began to close the door, and just before the door shut, she said, “Then again, the pony might not be a literal pony. That’s the trouble with visions. Focus on the spell, and let me think on this.” Trixie grabbed the scroll and felt the familiar disgust as she continued to study the spell that brought her here. --- “We really should get going,” Fluttershy said. Rainbow Dash sighed in relief as she closed the textbook, “Oh, good. How am I supposed to remember all this stuff?” Fluttershy giggled, “I found taking a nap after studying is a big help. Somehow I remembered what I studied.” “A nap does sound good,” Rainbow said, “And a certain somepony thought so too.” They both smiled at the sleeping girl. It didn’t take long before she became overwhelmed and opted for a nap instead. “I don’t want to wake her,” Fluttershy said, “But we should go.” “Just leave her here,” Rainbow said, “I’ll drop her off at the cottage later.” Fluttershy nodded, “Do you mind?” “Wouldn’t have offered if I did,” Rainbow said, “Just go. You’re cutting into my nap time. I’ll bring her home before dinner. I promise.” “Okay,” Fluttershy said, smiling, “I’ll see you later. Would you like to join us for dinner?” Rainbow rubbed her chin, “Nah, I think I’ll make something for Scootaloo and me before I take her over.” “Then I should probably take her now,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t want her getting food poisoning.” “Hey,” Rainbow said, “I’m a great cook.” Fluttershy stretched her wings, “No. You’re a great survivor of your cooking.” Rainbow laughed, “That stings, Shy. That does, but heck yeah, I’ll definitely have dinner at your place.” “Good,” Fluttershy said. She gently stroked Scootaloo’s mane, “Please take care of her.” “Fluttershy,” Rainbow said, pushing her friend out of the kitchen, “Relax. She’s in good hooves. We’ll see you tonight.” “Okay,” Fluttershy said. She hugged Rainbow, “We’ll talk when you’re ready, but don’t keep it buried.” Fluttershy pulled away and added, “Trust me, I know what that can do to you.” “Yeah,” Rainbow said, “You’ll be my first stop. I promise.” “Okay,” Fluttershy said, “I’ll see you tonight.” She left the cloud home and flew toward her cottage. As she slowly made her way home, her thoughts turned to her future. She had to make changes to the cottage if Scootaloo decided to live with her. She also had to talk to Applejack. Fluttershy stopped flying and hovered for a while. She didn’t feel ready to talk with Applejack but knew she would never truly feel ready. She decided that she needed to talk with Applejack now, but first, she would need some advice. With her decision made, she turned and flew toward the library. --- Spike just finished brewing the coffee and set the grinds ready for Twilight’s next pots. He shook his head at the dark brew. That pony could drink some coffee. “Okay,” he said, walking back into the main room, “Your first pot is ready, and I got it all set up. All you gotta do is put water and the grounds.” “Thanks, Spike,” Twilight said, “Though I should ask the princesses for any possible information they can provide.” Spike shrugged, “All this is way too advanced for me, so you do what you do.” He was about to continue his chores when somepony knocked on the door. “Hey, Fluttershy,” Spike said, “Didn’t think word about Applejack already got out.” Fluttershy stared at Spike for a moment, “Applejack? What happened with Applejack?” Spike gulped, “Oh, well. You should talk to Twilight. She’s taking care of Applejack.” “Oh no,” Fluttershy whispered as she ran toward her friend. “Please tell me what happened,” she pleaded with Twilight. Twilight shook her head, “I’m not sure. Big Mac dropped her off. She passed out from work. He said that when she fell, an explosion came from her body.” “Do you think it has to do with the trapped energy,” Fluttershy asked. “Yes,” Twilight said, “It changed when I first scanned her, but now it’s subsided. There’s not much more that I can do right now but keep an eye on her. If I can reconstruct the spell used, I can find out how to dispel the trapped energy.” “Is that safe,” Fluttershy asked. Twilight nodded, “There shouldn’t be anything to worry about. I simply want to know the mechanics of the spell, so I can better understand how to help Applejack. I don’t have any intention of actually using it.” Fluttershy sighed, “I’m sorry.” “Were you planning on talking to her today,” Twilight asked. “Yes,” Fluttershy said, “But it seems that I can’t anymore.” “Hey, lose that attitude,” Twilight scolded, “She’s safe. The energy has diminished and is back to how it was when she left the hospital. I think she’ll wake up in a few hours.” Fluttershy smiled, “Oh, good. Will she stay here, or will Big Mac take her home?” Twilight stopped writing a note on a parchment, “He said that he’ll stop by this evening, and if she’s either awake or not gotten worse, I don’t see any reason to keep her here.” “In that case,” Fluttershy said, “I’ll visit her tomorrow. I don’t want to cause her any discomfort.” “And it puts off your conversation,” Twilight asked. Fluttershy sighed, “Yes. I know I’m an awful pony for not wanting to talk, but I’m scared.” Twilight hugged Fluttershy, who immediately hugged her back and asked, “Do you want to get back together?” “Yes,” Fluttershy said, “But I’m worried that I’ll make a mistake again.” “That’s in the past,” Twilight said, “For now, focus on the future. You have your daughter, and soon, you’ll have your special somepony. I’ll have Spike send you a letter if she stays here or goes home.” Fluttershy opened her mouth, but Twilight stopped her. “This is the part where you shut up,” Twilight said, smiling, “I know you can’t stay here because you have to take care of Scootaloo, so don’t worry about it.” “Am I that predictable,” Fluttershy asked. “Pretty much,” Spike said, “But that’s a good thing. We know how to help.” Twilight shook her head, “Ignore him. Go home and see her tomorrow. You have a big day ahead of you.” Fluttershy smiled and left the library. In the distance, she saw Rainbow Dash’s house. Her daughter was probably still sleeping soundly. Though she couldn’t see it, she knew that Pinkie was working hard to make ponies happy. She then remembered her basket and decided that it would be best if Rainbow kept it. Her friend preferred sweets, and Fluttershy was happy to share them with her. Fluttershy spread her wings and took flight. She headed home, both to prepare dinner, but also to prepare for whatever the future would bring.